Previous research has suggested that by the age of six, children display high levels
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styles. Until now, it has been difficult to investigate musical style sensitivity in
the early years because the test procedures have relied heavily on the use of
language, including the use of verbal instructions and written responses, and
because they have demanded levels of concentration, attention and memory span that
are beyond most preschoolers. This study reports on the development and piloting of
a new procedure which overcomes these problems, and the results suggest that many
preschool children do seem able to distinguish between different musical styles.
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